2026 October Pastor Message
Dear Church Family,
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As we step into the month of October, my prayer is that God’s profound peace and abundant blessings surround you and your families.
For the past few weeks, I have been deeply reflecting on the topic of trust. Do you trust yourself? Do you trust others? And above all, do you trust God?
Since getting married, my wife has sometimes advised me to take the time to truly know myself. To be honest, knowing myself wasn't something I had thought much about. I had always been so focused on trusting others and earning their trust in return. As a pastor, building trust is essential, but in the process, I neglected to pay attention to my own inner life—my own likes, dislikes, and personal boundaries.
I have recently come to realize, however, that trusting myself is directly connected to trusting others. In college and throughout my early thirties, people often told me I needed more confidence. Perhaps my efforts to be polite made me appear hesitant in my words and actions. But I now understand that true confidence grows naturally when I learn to trust myself.
In his book The Speed of Trust, Stephen Covey explains that self-trust is built on two pillars: character and competence. Character includes our integrity and intent. Integrity is having the courage to act in accordance with our values and beliefs, while good intent means being straightforward and seeking mutual benefit. Competence, on the other hand, encompasses our capabilities—our talents, attitudes, skills, and knowledge. When we actively develop and apply these traits, self-trust takes root.
When we possess this kind of self-trust, it naturally translates into being trusted by others. People look at our words and behaviors to decide if we are reliable. But my ultimate reflection brings me back to our faith: Do we trust God?
God created us in His image, which means we are His children. When we believe in God as our Father, our identity is secure as His sons and daughters. When we truly understand who we are in God, trusting ourselves becomes a healthy, faithful expression of His creation.
To explore this further, we will be holding a 4-week Bible study on the topic of Trust, meeting in the conference room after the Sunday service from October 11th through November 8th. Together, we will examine our own self-trust, discuss how to become more trustworthy to others, and ultimately, reflect on how we can deepen our trust in God. The study book is completely free, and I warmly invite you to join us.
May God’s peace and grace continue to be with you and your family.
In His Grace,
Peter Lee
October Calendar: Upcoming Gatherings & Sermons
As we gather for worship throughout this month, please note the following dates:
October 4 (Sunday): Guest Speaker – Rev. Ray Bailey and Holy Communion
October 11 (Sunday): Sermon – Jonah 3
October 18 (Sunday): Sermon – Jonah 4
October 25 (Sunday): Sermon – What Is Everyone's Greatest Need? (Mark 2:1-12) / Praise and Worship Sunday
October Encouraging Bible Verses
May these scriptures strengthen your heart and guide your steps this month:
Proverbs 3:5-6
English: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Isaiah 26:3
"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you."
Jeremiah 17:7
"But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him."